I guess if you are going to report the good it is only fair to report the less pleasant as well. This week was quit a struggle for the Lebanon HS baseball team. With only three games this week against the best teams we have played all year, all of our weaknesses were exposed. In two losses to Mt. Juliet and a loss to Beech, the guys managed only three runs scored for the week.
As for Jessep this week, he was minimally productive at the plate as well. Through three games he was 2/8 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored. He was able to play a significant role in all of the three LHS runs this week, but that is stretching it here. Facing Mt. Juliet's top pitchers (3 seniors who are committed to high level D-1 programs for the fall) he had some good AB's against some solid talent collecting both of his hits and a SAC fly RBI in that series. He continues to play a solid centerfield and had the opportunity to pitch one inning vs. Mt. Juliet surrendering one hit and two walks, while striking out one batter and giving up zero runs. It had been over a month since his last outing on the mound.
The team will have an opportunity this week to recover from what has become a long 1-10 skid as the regular season comes to a close in the next 8 days with 6 games on schedule.
Tuesday, April 27 Canceled
Wednesday, April 28 Station Camp HS @ Station Camp (Hendersonville) 7:00 pm
Thursday, April 29 Station Camp HS @ LHS 7:00 pm
Firday, April 30 Cookeville @ Cookeville 6:30pm
Saturday, May 1 Oakland @ Oakland (M'boro) 6:30pm
Monday, May 3 Oakland @ LHS 6:30pm
Tuesday, May 4 Cannon Co. @ Cannon Co. (Woodbury, TN) 5:00pm
May 7 Region 9 AAA Tournament TBA
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
A Tale of Two Halves
This past week for Lebanon High School baseball was a very busy with six games including a long out of town weekend. The first half of the week proved to be a very difficult couple of games versus conference rival Wilson Central, while the end of the week saw some pretty competitive action against Marshall County, Shelbyville Central, Lincoln County and Tullahoma. As a team the Blue Devils went 1-5 on the week with two heart breaking one run losses.
Jessep Polk has continued to carry a hot stick this week with one of his better efforts of the season. He struggled to hit the ball hard in the first part of the week, but continued to be productive, however over the six game span he went 12/23 with 2 doubles, a walk, 2 stolen bases and 5 RBI. His at bats demonstrated his ability to be a balance hitter spraying line drives in every direction on the diamond. The two doubles demonstrated variety as well, with one a deep drive to the gap in right center and the other a standard line drive single to center, but with aggressive base running out of the box Jessep was able to out hustle the defense to turn it into a double creating a run for the team.
Jessep continues to adjust to the new program and requests of his coach as he played centerfield in the first five games of the week before catching the final game vs. Tullahoma. In the one game caught he threw out the only attempted base stealer. He also adjusted to a new location in the batting line up as he was moved from the three hole to lead off over the weekend, a position he has never held. As a result he started three of the four games with a hit including one of the doubles.
This weeks game will present a great challenge for LHS and Jessep as they will face two very talented region opponents.
Tuesday, April 20 Mt. Juliet @ Baird Park, Lebanon 6:30
Wednesday, April 21 Mt. Juliet @ Mt. Juliet 7:00
Saturday, April 24 Beech @ Beech HS, Hendersonville 12:00
Jessep Polk has continued to carry a hot stick this week with one of his better efforts of the season. He struggled to hit the ball hard in the first part of the week, but continued to be productive, however over the six game span he went 12/23 with 2 doubles, a walk, 2 stolen bases and 5 RBI. His at bats demonstrated his ability to be a balance hitter spraying line drives in every direction on the diamond. The two doubles demonstrated variety as well, with one a deep drive to the gap in right center and the other a standard line drive single to center, but with aggressive base running out of the box Jessep was able to out hustle the defense to turn it into a double creating a run for the team.
Jessep continues to adjust to the new program and requests of his coach as he played centerfield in the first five games of the week before catching the final game vs. Tullahoma. In the one game caught he threw out the only attempted base stealer. He also adjusted to a new location in the batting line up as he was moved from the three hole to lead off over the weekend, a position he has never held. As a result he started three of the four games with a hit including one of the doubles.
This weeks game will present a great challenge for LHS and Jessep as they will face two very talented region opponents.
Tuesday, April 20 Mt. Juliet @ Baird Park, Lebanon 6:30
Wednesday, April 21 Mt. Juliet @ Mt. Juliet 7:00
Saturday, April 24 Beech @ Beech HS, Hendersonville 12:00
Monday, April 12, 2010
Mid Season Update
The Lebanon High School baseball team has just surpassed the midway point of the season with 18 games now under there belt. As of April 12 the team has surpassed everybody's expectations with a record of 10-7-1 on the year. The remaining weeks of the season will thrust this young crew into Region 9AAA fire as they will see home/away action against Wilson Central, Mt. Juliet, and Station Camp along with a single game with Beech.
This last week saw the guys take wins over Cookeville and Warren County followed by a pair of losses to Tullahoma.
Jessep Polk, the subject of this blog had a solid but fairly pedestrian week this week hitting .500 on a 5/10 clip (all singles) with 2 BB, 2 HBP, 2 reached on error, and 3 RBI. The scouting report must be getting out to avoid throwing a fastball anywhere near the zone and to nibble with the off speed stuff. Three of the five singles were to right field, most of them on curveballs. Jessep is working to adjust to the junk ball approach and drive the ball to rt center more frequently. The last four games also saw him in action in center field where he made several excellent running catches throughout the week. Although, he is not a natural outfielder he has taken the responsibility to do whatever the coaches ask of him and do everything he can to excel in that situation. Unfortunately, there is not any video available to document his work in center field. Playing the outfield has kept his legs fresh allowing him to steal bases this week including a steal of third.
Through 18 games Jessep's statistical line is as follows:
23/55 .418 BA, 2 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 9 BB, 2 HBP, 4 K, 5 ROE, 1 SACFLY
This weeks LHS schedule is as follows:
4/13 Wilson Central @ LHS 6:30pm
4/14 Wilson Central @ WC 6:30pm
4/16-17 Shelbyville, Franklin Co. Tullahoma Tournament (4 games)
This last week saw the guys take wins over Cookeville and Warren County followed by a pair of losses to Tullahoma.
Jessep Polk, the subject of this blog had a solid but fairly pedestrian week this week hitting .500 on a 5/10 clip (all singles) with 2 BB, 2 HBP, 2 reached on error, and 3 RBI. The scouting report must be getting out to avoid throwing a fastball anywhere near the zone and to nibble with the off speed stuff. Three of the five singles were to right field, most of them on curveballs. Jessep is working to adjust to the junk ball approach and drive the ball to rt center more frequently. The last four games also saw him in action in center field where he made several excellent running catches throughout the week. Although, he is not a natural outfielder he has taken the responsibility to do whatever the coaches ask of him and do everything he can to excel in that situation. Unfortunately, there is not any video available to document his work in center field. Playing the outfield has kept his legs fresh allowing him to steal bases this week including a steal of third.
Through 18 games Jessep's statistical line is as follows:
23/55 .418 BA, 2 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 9 BB, 2 HBP, 4 K, 5 ROE, 1 SACFLY
This weeks LHS schedule is as follows:
4/13 Wilson Central @ LHS 6:30pm
4/14 Wilson Central @ WC 6:30pm
4/16-17 Shelbyville, Franklin Co. Tullahoma Tournament (4 games)
Monday, April 5, 2010
Week of March 29 - April 4
Lebanon High School played five games this week with a bit stiffer competition through the weekend including the top rated pitching prospect from Science Hill High School. Through the five game stretch, all at Veteran's Park in Lebanon, Jessep went 5/15 at the plate with a double, triple, 4 BB, and 6 RBI. This weeks at bats were more about driving the ball back up the middle and to right center producing the extra base hits and two deep outs over the weekend. Defensively, he split action by catching three games and playing center field in two. While behind the plate Jessep threw out one would be base stealer in only three attempted thefts.
Lebanon's schedule this week includes matchups with Warren County 6:30 Wednesday, Cookeville 6:30 Friday and a twin bill with Tullahoma 1:30 Saturday. All at Veteran's Park in Lebanon, TN.
Lebanon's schedule this week includes matchups with Warren County 6:30 Wednesday, Cookeville 6:30 Friday and a twin bill with Tullahoma 1:30 Saturday. All at Veteran's Park in Lebanon, TN.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Player of the Week Honors
Jessep Polk of Lebanon High School in Lebanon, TN is not only off to a strong start with a new program, he is demonstrating the kind of young power any college coach would want out of his catcher. In three games over the weekend Jessep went 6/11 with a double and three HR's. Through nine games he is now sporting 4 HR's. Defensively, he has been splitting time between his catching duties and patrolling center field, using his speed to track down balls in cavernous outfield at Veteran's Field (406 to Ctr. field) and his strong arm to hold runners at bay. Behind the plate he is demonstrating tremendous leadership skills with a young pitching staff and keeping base-runners in check, throwing out the only runner to attempt a steal over the weekend.
This week the Lebanon team will host conference foe Portland on Monday. Other games this week, all at Veteran's Field in Lebanon will be Thursday @ 6:30 v Science Hill, Friday @ 5:30 v Henry County, and Saturday v. Powell @ 3:00 and Spring Hill @ 5:30.
Jessep was awarded player of the week honors at LHS for his contribution to the teams success over the weekend.
This week the Lebanon team will host conference foe Portland on Monday. Other games this week, all at Veteran's Field in Lebanon will be Thursday @ 6:30 v Science Hill, Friday @ 5:30 v Henry County, and Saturday v. Powell @ 3:00 and Spring Hill @ 5:30.
Jessep was awarded player of the week honors at LHS for his contribution to the teams success over the weekend.
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